Abdominal supporter



ASTATES:

PATENT FFICE;

Jo'sEPH WHITE, s. N; MARSH, AND H.

ABnoMINAf.

speeifiatio of Letfes Patent No.

To all ii/wm, t Wmyemirm i l y uBe `known that y we,` JofsnrH WHITE, Siivnro'tin" MAIsIf-I, and HENRY, SMITH, of Canajoharie, in the County of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented certain new and" useful Improvements in ,the Mannerl of `Constr-ucting Utero Abdominal Supporters; and we do hereby `declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof. l L s The object of the utero abdominal sup porter, it is well known to physicians,`is to remove the weight of the abdominal from the pelvic viscera, by the proper application of mechanical means. For this purpose, what is denominated an abdominal pad has been advantageously used; and this pad we have improved in its manner of construction, in a way that will he presently explained. When the muscles of the abdomen, and the ligaments supporting the uterus, `are relaXed, from any cause, the removal. of undueV weight from the pelvis will allow the parts to return to a more natural and healthy condition, and this may be effected by the use of the abdominal pad alone; and whenever there is much displacement of the uterus, this removal of pressure is essential to a cure. It is, also, important in many cases to combine a perineal support with the abdominal pad; and in others, to sustainthe uterus by means of a pessary; and in order to give to our instrument the utmost degree of perfection, we have improved the perineal pad, and likewise the pessary, and adapted them in an advantageous manner to the abdominal pad, so that either the peri` neal pad, or the pessary, may be used in combination with the abdominal pad, according to the nature of the case.

The abdominal pad, the spring b y which it is connected to the back-pad, and the .said back-pad, are to be covered with leather, stuffed, and otherwise preparechin any of the ways now in use, and which do not need to be represented, or described.

- In the accompanying drawing, Figure l, represents a skeleton of the abdominal sup porter, the straps, leather covering, and stuffing not being attached thereto. Fig. 2, shows the improved perineal pad, and Fig. 3, the improved pessary; either of which may be combined `with the abdominal pad, at pleasure.

Our improvement in the abdominal pad consists in our making it of three sepasMrrH, or CANAJOHARI, NEW ironic snrPoRTER.

3,289, dated september as, i843.

other at the lines of their junction, 5, al; 1 these plates we connect together means of ltwo lelastic springs, D," and E, which we jdenominate respiratory springs, and which are united tothe plates by means of rivets. l By this manner of forming the basis ofthe pad of three plates,and of combining thein' together by means of springs, they adapt themselves better to the difference' of conformation, and to the respiratory motions of the body than under any of the modes of construction heretofore adopted. The spring F, by which the abdominal and back pads are connected, is attached to the abdominal pad by means of the hinge joint, and is acted` upon by an adjusting spring in the same manner with that adopted in the inguinal truss for which Seymour Marsh `obtained Let-ters Patent under date of the 29th of March 1830; by which device, the under part of said said abdominal pad is thrown inward and is made the more perfectly to supportthe weight of the viscera.

Our improved perineal pad .is made entirely of silver, or of other metal well plated with silver, o-r of any metal not liable to corrosion by the agents to which it is subjected.

It is shown at G, Fig. 2. In its form, it re` sembles such perineal pads as have been covered with india-rubber, varnished leather, or other similar material; but by substituting a surface of silver, or other suitable metal, for any of these, all alteration from corrosion, temperature, or other agents is completely obviated, and the most perfect cleanliness is secured. This change of material constitutes, therefore, a substantial improvement in the instrument. The pad is connected to a steel spring H, by means of a double joint, there being a joint pin at as, and two entering the small studs at b, b. The spring, H, is plated with silver, or it may be made of German silver; and it is so connected with the abdominal pad as that it may be readily removed and replaced when requisite. lts mode of connection is shown in Fig. 4, where B, is the middle part of the abdominal pad, and I, is a spring, having a small friction roller c, at its lower end, which falls into one of the holes (l, CZ, ci, in the spring H, and holds it in place, allowing it to be moved up or down, or entirelydetached.

J, Fig. 3, shows our improved pessary, attached to the spring H, by means of the plated, or other suit-able, wire, K; the spring rate plates, B, and C, which lap oneachv H, is to be connected with the abdominal pad, in the manner already described. In this ligure, the hinge and springs used in the inguinal truss are also shown as applied to this supporter; K, is the hinge, and L, L, springs which bear on its inner side, being furnished with small friction rollers, like that shown at c. This pessary is of silver, or is plated with silver, or made of, or coated. with any metal not liable to corrosion, and it may be perfectly adjusted by means et the screw e, which is tapped into its neck. From the material employed, it presents all the advantages of cleanliness appertaining to the improved perineal pad, while the manner of keeping it in place is superior to any known mode.

,Having thus, fully described the respective improvements made by us in the abdominal Supporter, what We claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters` Patent, is-

1. The manner of forming the abdominal pad ot three plates of metal, connected together by means of springs, as herein set Jforth.

Q. lVe claim the combining` of the perineal with the abdominal pad, under an arrangement o the respective parts such as is above described.

3. Vile claim, likewise, the combining of an adjustable pessary with the abdominal pad, substantially in the manner above -fully made known.

JOSEPH VHITE. S. N. MARSH. y HENRY SMITH. Vitnesses 2 CHESTER L. BRUMLEY, GEORGE H. PLATNEE. 

